City of Vancouver eliminates coin option for parking meters
Posted April 18, 2026 3:22 pm.
Last Updated April 19, 2026 5:16 pm.
Drivers who rely on coins to pay for parking in Vancouver had better make sure they have a credit card or a parking app.
The city says it will soon eliminate coins as a payment option for street parking, “in an effort to streamline operation and modernize parking infrastructure.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!“Vancouver is part of a growing number of jurisdictions no longer using coins for parking, including City of North Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Washington, DC,” the City of Vancouver said.
“The trend is driven by a desire to eliminate the ‘coin-handling lifecycle,’ which includes the labour of collection, the security of transport, and the high failure rate of physical coin mechanisms due to jams or vandalism.”
Unlike the other Canadian cities mentioned, Vancouver’s meters are in effect seven days a week, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. In Winnipeg and Regina, for example, the city meters are only in effect until 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
According to the City of Vancouver, only four per cent of its parking revenue comes from coin payments. Most use parking apps such as PayByPhone and HotSpot, it says.
In addition to apps and credit cards, users can pay by calling PayByPhone at 604-909-7275. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays, drivers can pay by calling 311.
City Coun. Lucy Maloney says that people are fed up with the number of apps they have on their phones to deal with parking in the city.
“My concerns are that we need to make sure that paying for parking is accessible for people who may not have phones or may not want to have a phone, or people whose batteries run out,” she told 1130 NewsRadio.
“I know it’s very frustrating for people when they’re relying on an app, and they can’t get it to work.”
She says that she will be “making inquiries” to ensure people still can pay without a phone and do not end up with a ticket.
She adds that the change will not only affect senior citizens.
“Young people do not have access to credit cards, and they can still drive.”
She suggests an alternative system to coins and apps altogether.
